Snap action incremental actuator



1965 D. TRINGALI 3,200,655

SNAP ACTION INCREMENTAL ACTUATOR Filed Sept. 24, 1963 2, Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR g Z DOM/NICK TR/NGAL/ A TTORNEK.

Aug. 17, 1965 D. TRINGALI 3,200,655

SNAP ACTION INCREMENTAL ACTUATOR Filed Sept. 24, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Time Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 24, 1963, Ser. No. 311,102 12 Claims. '(CI. 74-54) This invention relates to a mechanism for incrementally actuating indicating elements and is particularly adaptable to timing devices such as time stamps, time recorders, cycle timers and the like.

For purposes of illustration the apparatus of this invention is shown as adapted to a time stamp such as disclosed in the patent to Ostler, No. 2,214,796, issued September 17, 1940, and entitled Time Printing Device wherein a pawl and ratchet mode of indexing operation is utilized.

Pawl and ratchet devices for elfecting step by step actuation of indexing mechanism are very well known. Applicant is well aware of numerous devices for efiecting such actuation by closely timed solenoid operation, such as disclosed in the above referred to Ostler patent. Another conventional mode of operation is in the use of a constantly rotated cam (or cams) for cocking the actuating means during the first portion of a cycle and accomplishing actuation at the later portion of that cycle. Still another mode of step by step actuation is carried out on a modified two-step principle. That is, an actuating lever is effective to cock a ratchet advancing pawl during the first half rotary excursion of a synchronously driven element and during the second portion of that excursion a spring is tensioned to condition the actuating lever. Toward the end of that excursion, the spring aotuates the lever and causes the advancing pawl to advance the ratchet. A device of the latter type is the subject matter of the patent to Juhas, No. 2,987,929, issued June 13, 1961.-

While the mechanisms briefly outlined above have operated generally satisfactorily, their respective advancing ratchets are left floating or unlatched (or latched against movement in only one direction) for a comparatively lengthy period between the cocking and actuating steps. That is, if the frequency of actuation occurs every minute and the cocking operation occurs during the first half minute, the advancing ratchet and interconnected gearing are liberated and left in a floating condition. If shock or vibration is experienced during this time of liberation, the floating elements frequently creep and alter alignment which results in a faulty operation during time change. In a time recorder or time stamp, for example, the recording indicia and clock mechanism may be set fast or slow thereby rendering the apparatus inaccurate.

In the art to which this invention pertains, such condition has been a long standing problem and, as far as applicant is aware, no known apparatus of the character indicated has provided the extremely rapid, one-step, absolute advancing action characterized by the simplicity of operation accomplished by the mechanism of the present invention wherein floating or creeping of the control elements is prevented. As will become readily apparent hereinafter, the advancing ratchet is actuated immediately the advancing pawl assembly is fully cocked; the entire operation taking but a fraction of a second.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide an imporved incremental actuating mechanism that operates in a single step, snap action fashion.

Another object is to provide such a mechanism that is extremely reliable, simple in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

An additional and important object of this invention is to provide an improved incremental actuating mechanism that can be readily adapted to existing devices of the character above indicated with a minimum of ex: pense and alteration.

A more specific object is to provide an improved incremental drive means for a pawl and ratchet mechanism that will impart rapid and absolute advancing steps to a ratchet wheel.

A still more specific object is to provide an incremental actuating mechanism that utilizes continually cycled elements which are commonly mounted and synchronously driven.

A further object is to provide an incremental actuating mechanism featuring an actuating lever associated with one continually rotated element and a triggering lever associated with another continually rotated element wherein their respective functions overlap during an advancing operation.

In keeping with the previous object, it is a further object to insure that .the actuating lever is fully cooked prior to the firing of the triggering lever to thereby prevent a faulty operation or misfire.

It is a'still further object to provide a gradually increasing tensioning means common to the actuating and triggering levers to carry out the above stated functions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanyin g drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a right side elevational view of the mechanism of the invention as applied to a time stamp and illustrating the condition of that mechanism immediately following a triggering operation for driving the advancing ratchet and thus the time and date wheels in unison with the clock advancing mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view partially exploded which particularly illustrates the triggering and advancing elements shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevational view, shown partly in section and taken substantially along lines 33 of FIG. 1, showing the mounting of the continuously cycled elements; and

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the principal elements of the invention in progressive stages of operation.

While a preferred form of the invention has been shown and will be described herein, there is no intention to limit the invention to the particular type of machine illustrated. Therefore, while the invention is shown adapted to a time stamp it should be understood that the intent is to cover all modifications and adaptions falling Within the scope and spirit of the invention as pointed out in the appended claims.

The time stamp herein disclosed comprises upper and lower sections as can be seen by reference to the above mentioned Ostler patent. Only the elements of the upper portion of the time stamp that are pertinent to an undersanding of the instant invention are illustrated. Therefore, in FIG. 1 plate 12 is mounted between a pair of side walls 10 and 1 1. Pate 12 mounts a motor 14 having a stub shaft 15 which is synchronously driven by means of suitable gearing in a well known manner. As indicated in FIG. 3, shaft 15 is fixed to a machined or turned down hex shaft 16 of various diameters as by a set screw 18. Shaft 16 is formed as shown and mounts a notched disc 20 and an eccentric 22, commonly referred to as a snail cam. Disc 20 and eccentric 22 are separated by a spacer 24 and locked on shaft 16 by a nut 26 and a lock washer 28. The turned down end 29 of shaft 16 having the least diameter is journaled in a bearing 3% which is fixed in side wall 11 as by swaging or the like. Thus stub shaft 15,shaft 16, disc 20 and eccentric 22 are synchronously rotated as a unit by motor 14.

Eccentric 22 controls the triggering function that imparts periodic advancement of an. advancing ratchetSZ, time printing wheels gear and the clock advancing mechanism gear, each generally indicated at 33 and 34, respectively. The frequency of advancement will depend on the particular type of time printing mechanism provided. For example, the motor 14 may be rated to rotate the disc 2i and eccentric 22 one revolution every six seconds. That is, ten revolutions during every minute'as the style of time stamp partially illustrated may comp-rise a printing wheel for recording tenths. of a minute. The frequency of advancement is determined by the cyclic speed of shaft which may be'one revolution per minute, hour or any reasonable speed desired.

Referring again to FIG. 1, several posts join the side Walls 1!) and 11. The posts are further utilized to mount conventional operating elements of the time stamp not disclosed herein as they form no directportion of the present invention. One of the side wall supporting posts 36 pivotally mounts on actuating lever 38. Lever 38 has mounted for pivotal movement at its forward or left hand end, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, an actuating pawl assembly, generally indicated at 39. Pawl assembly 39 together with advancing ratchet 32 with which it is associated will be described more in detail hereinafter. A detent stud 41 is fixed at the forward portion of lever 38 and engages the teeth of a detent ratchet 42. Ratchets 42 and 32 are mounted on a common shaft 43 that also mounts a master gear, generally indicated at 44, that actuates gears 33 and 34. The teeth of ratchet 42 are formed oppositely to the teeth of ratchet 32 to insure that the advancing steps are absolute and to insure that alignment is preserved between actuations.

At the rear or right hand portion of lever 38 a tab 45 is formed as best seen in FIG. 2. In the inactive state of actuating lever 38, tab 45 is associated with the periphery of the constantly rotated disc and, as will be further explained, permits thecocking of pawl assembly 39 as it periodically registers with a notch 46 formed in disc 20.

Toward the rear portion of actuating lever 38 a triggering lever 47 is pivotally mounted, as at-48. Levers 38 and 47 are spaced as shown in FIG. 2. Triggering lever 47 has a tab 49 formed at its forward end which overlies a shelf 59 formed from the underside of actuating lever 38.

Toward its rear, lower portion, triggering lever 47 has a secondtab 52 formed therefrom which is in association with the periphery of eccentric 22. Lever 47 by its association with eccentric 22 and shelf 50 of lever 38 will be effective to cause actuation of the advancing ratchet 32 whenever tab 45 of lever 38 registers with notch 46 of disc 20, as will become apparent hereinafter.

Triggering lever 47 also has a rearwardly extending arm 54 that accommodates at its end portion a spring 56 which is anchored on a stud 57 fixed in motor mounting plate 12. As shown in FIG. 1, spring 56 is in the relaxed condition as ratchet 34 has just been advanced by the actuation of lever 38 as a result of the triggering action of lever 47; tab 52 of lever 47 being in adjacency tothe low portion of eccentric 22. To avoid excessive shock and wear to the mechanism, tab 52 is not permitted to contact eccentric 22 following the termination of a triggering action. The home position of the actuating lever 38 and thus lever 47 is determined by a grooved post 59 fixed between side walls It and 11.

During assembly lever 47 is set at the most advantageous or desired triggering location, the eccentric 22 may be adjusted with respect to the notch 46 of disc 20 when in the unlocked condition (in substantially the FIG. 4 position), then nut 26 tightened.

In FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 the mechanism of the invention is illustrated in three stages of successive actuation, the action from one stage to the next occurring in extremely rapid fashion. FIG. 1 depicts the terminal condition of the elements following the. in-motion illustration of FIG. 6.

FIG. 4 shows the position of the elements just prior to setting off a triggering action; 7 Tab 45 is in approximation with notch 46 of rotating disc 20. Spring 56 is now tensioned to strongly urge lever 47 in counterclockwise direction about pivot 43; lever 47 fulcruming on eccentric 22 at tab 52 and urging lever 38 in clockwise direction about its pivot 36. In FTG. 5 disc 2ti has rotated a slight increment and notch 46 receives'tab 45 thereby allowing lever 47 to cause lever 38 to pivot clockwise in rapid fashion under the urge of spring 56. It is important to-notein FIG. 5 that the advancing pawl assem- V trative and not in a limiting sense.

bly 39' is now fully cocked. That is, an advancing pawl 61 fixed in the assembly has moved from a lower tooth 63 of ratchet 32 into position to engage an adjacent up per tooth 64. As pawl 1 moved from the lower tooth 63 up past the adjacent upper tooth 64, the assembly yielded against the urge of a spring 66, pivoting about stud 65 which is journaled in lever 38, as indicated at the exploded area of FIG. 2. When pawl 61 cleared the high point of tooth 64, spring'66 returned pawl '61 into engagement with ratchet 32 well clear of tooth 64.

It is important to further note that tab 52 of lever 47 is now in engagement with the pinnacle of eccentric 22 and spring 56 is fully tensioned. Thus a slight pivotal movement clockwise of the rightward end of lever 38 (its leftward end being greater due to the leverage advantage for rapidly cocking the pawl assembly) shifts pivot point 48 slightly downwardly causing tab 52 to fly from the pinnacle toward the low portion of eccentric 22 and thereby pivots lever 47 further counterclockwise whereupon tab 49 engages shelf 54). As shown in FIG. 6, as this triggering occurs spring 56 is effective in continuing to pr-opellever 4'7 and thus snaps both levers 47 and 38 counterclockwise; thus lever 38 instantaneously reverses direction and causes advancement of ratchet 32 and reengagement of detent stud 41 with detent ratchet 42 to accomplish an extremely rapid, absolute advancement of the recording indicia and clock mechanism.

It should now be apparent that the invention provides a snap action mechanism by use of a simple disc and cam assembly driven by a common means. The disc and cam each has a lever associated therewith. The levers are joined in a novel manner and both biased by a single spring to effect first a cooking action. During the course of the cocking action the pivot point whereat the levers are joined is shifted whereupon a triggering action is set off to accomplish an actuating step.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illus It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A snap action incremental actuator mechanism comprising in combination:

drive means,

a disc having an irregularity formed at its periphery and an eccentric, each cycled by said drive means,

a conditioning lever associated withsaid disc, a triggering lever associated with said eccentric,

said levers joined by a shiftable pivotal arrangement,

and initiating means including said irregularity effective during one portion of said cycle to initiate said snap action and cause said pivotal arrangment to shift whereby an actuation is effected.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said initiating means includes a spring and said irregularity in said disc is a notch.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said eccentric is in the form of a snail cam.

4. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said conditioning lever has a tab formed therefrom adapted to register with said irregularity to initiate said snap action actuation.

5. A mechanism for incrementally actuating indicating elements in snap action fashion comprising in combination:

mounting means,

operating means fixed on said mounting means,

a disc substantially concentric about its periphery and having an irregularity formed at one portion thereof, an eccentric,

said disc and eccentric commonly mounted and cycled by said operating means, a two-ended actuator pivotally arranged on said mounting means,

one end of said actuator engaged with said periphery during the major portion of said cycle, and operating means at its other end for actuating said indicating elements, a triggering lever,

said actuator and lever joined by a shiftable pivotal arrangement and adapted for coupling,

and single biasing means for said actuator and lever whereby when said one end of said actuator registers with said disc irregularity during one portion of said cycle said biasing means is effective to shift said pivotal arrangement, couple said actuator and lever and thereby cause actuation of said indicating elements by said operating means in snap action fashion.

6. The combination defined in claim 5' wherein said eccentric is in the form of a snail cam and said biasing means is a spring gradually tensioned during said cycle for effecting said snap action operation.

7. A mechanism for incrementally actuating indicating elements in snap action fashion comprising in combination:

mounting means,

operating means fixed on said mounting means,

a disc substantially concentric about its periphery and having an irregularity formed at one portion thereof, an eccentric,

said disc and eccentric commonly mounted and cycled by said operating means, one end of said actuator engaged with said periphery during the major portion of said cycle, and operating means at its other end for actuating said indicating elements,

a triggering lever pivotally mounted on said actuator,

said lever having first and second offset tabs, said first tab adapted for coupling with said actuator, said second tab adapted to fulcrum on said eccentric,

and biasing means to pivot said lever about said fulcrum and condition said actuator via said pivotal mounting whereby when said one end of said actuator aligns with said irregularity during said cycle said first tab couples said actuator and lever to cause actuation of said indicating elements in snap action fashion.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said actuator has a shelf integral therewith for cooperation with said first tab of said lever for coupling said lever and actuator during said cycle.

9. In a time recorder wherein indicating elements are incrementally operated by a pawl and ratchet, a mechanism for effecting cocking and actuation in overlapping fashion comprising in combination:

drive means,

a disc having a notch formed in one portion of its periphery,

an eccentric,

said disc and eccentric cycled by said drive means, a lever having means thereon associated with said disc, a lever having means thereon associated with said eccentric and said disc lever,

said levers joined by a shiftable pivotal connection,

and means including said disc lever means and disc notch effective during said cycle to trip said levers in one direction to accomplish said cocking while concurrently shifting said pivotal connection, whereby said levers are caused to reverse direction and effect actuation of said indicating elements.

It The combination defined in claim 9 wherein said eccentric is a snail cam and the last recited means includes a spring gradually tensioned by said snail cam during said cycle.

11. The combination defined in claim 9 wherein said disc lever means includes a tab formed therefrom associated with said disc.

12. In a time recorder wherein indicating elements are incrementally operated by a pawl and ratchet, a mechanism for effecting cocking of the pawl and actuation of the ratchet in overlapping fashion comprising in combination:

drive means, a shaft driven by said drive means, a disc mounted on said driven shaft having a notch formed in one portion of its periphery, an eccentric mounted on said driven shaft,

said eccentric gradually increasing from a lesser radius to a greater radius with respect to said driven shaft, said greater radius terminating as a pinnacle, said disc and eccentric cycled by said drive means, an actuating lever having a shelf integral therewith and a tab formed therefrom, the latter associated with said disc, a triggering lever having a first and a second tab formed therefrom,

said first tab asosciated with said eccentric, said second tab adapted for coupling with said actuating lever shelf, said actuating and triggering levers connected by a shiftable pivotal junction, and means including said actuating lever tab and disc notch effective during said cycle to trip said levers in one direction to accomplish said cocking while concurrently shifting said pivotal connection, whereupon said triggering lever first tab leaves said pinnacle of said eccentric causing said triggering lever second tab and actuating lever shelf to couple and thereby reverse direction of said levers under the urge of said last mentioned means to effect actuation of said indicating elements.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,932,908 10/33 Ochsenbein 235-131 X 2,917,933 12/59 Harris 74.l25 3,071,017 1/63 Woolley 74-125 BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SNAP ACTION INCREMENTAL ACTUATOR MECHANISM COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: DRIVE MEANS, A DISC HAVING AN IRREGULARITY FORMED AT ITS PERIPHERY AND AN ECCENTRIC, EACH CYCLED BY SAID DRIVE MEANS, A CONDITIONING LEVER ASSOCIATED WITH SAID DISC, A TRIGGERING LEVER ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ECCENTRIC, SAID LEVERS JOINED BY A SHIFTABLE PIVOTAL ARRANGEMENT, AND INITIATING MEANS INCLUDING SAID IRREGULARITY EFFECTIVE DURING ONE PORTION OF SAID CYCLE TO INITIATE SAID SNAP ACTION AND CAUSE SAID PIVOTAL ARRANGEMENT TO SHIFT WHEREBY AN ACTUATION IS EFFECTED. 